ABSTRACT
During the 1960s, it was popular to voice one’s opinions, from a philosophical or practical perspective, regarding ethnicity, race, culture, discrimination, and prejudice. That aging population will become increasingly diverse by race, gender, income, ethnicity, immigration, and language. That diversity raises issues of how we can best respond to different social, cultural, and economic needs; understand and incorporate the effects of race, language, ethnicity, immigration, and historical experiences on the aging process; and in turn make public benefits and programs responsive to that diversity. There are compelling reasons to go beyond the common definition of diversity. As generations evolve, it will become more evident that diversity will continue to be a leading force in determining the essence of lifestyles of older people as anchors in society. These ideas and perspectives represent a preliminary examination of some of the evolutionary and future considerations for diversity in aging.
